SEOUL, July 7 (Korea Bizwire) — A new species of spider, which is believed to have lost its eyes over time as a result of adapting to life in a dark cave, has been discovered in South Korea.
The National Institute of Biological Resources said Thursday it had found this eyeless spider, known as a troglobite, in a cave located in Hapcheon County, South Gyeongsang Province, in February.
Unlike other spiders that possess protective coloring, this spider has a white body, likely due to the absence of predators.
The most notable characteristic of this spider is its lack of the eight eyes typically found in other spiders. In fact, it has completely lost its entire visual organ.
Rather than eyes, the spider relies on a small hole located on its third pair of legs, which serves as a sensory organ.
The spider has been named Telema coreana because it exhibits a shining blue color when illuminated, resembling a marble.
Image Credit: National Institute of Biological Resources / photonews@koreabizwire.com
